Sunday reflections: on “material cooperation” with (political) evil

U.S. Appeals Court Judge William Pryor (11th Circuit), a devout Catholic, wrote an interesting, short reflection last week about a judge’s duty to avoid “material cooperation” with evil. I apologize in advance for applying his explanation to a subject he was not addressing, but I do so because the subject is not just timely but perhaps urgent.

Judge Pryor’s insights should, I argue, be considered by those in positions of public trust who consider endorsing someone who is running to be our president and thus leader of the free world.

“Material cooperation occurs when the cooperator assists the actor by performing an act that is not necessarily evil,” wrote Pryor. Later: “The Catechism explains that ‘[a]nyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged.’…..

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.